IF Zumba Bromac wind the Eric Reece Memorial final over 2090m at UBET Park Hobart tonight it will be mission accomplished for trainer Juanita McKenzie.
The talented and lightly-raced mare had three starts last preparation for two wins and a second before being tipped out for a spell.
McKenzie brought the mare back into work gradually but she always had the Reece Memorial series that comprises heats and final in mind for Zumba Bromac.
Zumba Bromac delivered a brilliant first-up performance in her heat two weeks ago to win convincingly.
“Zumba Bromac was probably ready to race a few weeks before the Reece heats but I chose to keep her for this race series,” McKenzie said.
“She has definitely improved since her heat win and while she isn’t all that well drawn outside of the front row she does have good gate speed if needed and that might be the case in this race,” she said.
Victorian-owned mare Sparkling was another impressive heat winner scoring by just over three metres from Witch Master and she too was having her first start from a lengthy break.
However Sparkling has drawn the outside of the second line (13) while Zumba Bromac has the luxury of a front-row draw albeit from the outside gate (7).
Check out Jamie Cockshutt’s tips and form analysis for the nine-race card.